This product is the root of the perennial vine Morinda (Morinda officinalis How) from the India Madder Root family. It is mainly produced in Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, and other regions. It can be harvested throughout the year. After sun-drying, transmission from one meridian to the next, steaming thoroughly, and removing the woody core, it is called "Bajirou." It is then cut into segments and dried. It can be used raw or processed with saltwater.

bubble_chart Properties and Meridians

Sweet and acrid, slightly warm. Act on kidney and liver meridians.

bubble_chart Efficacy

Tonify kidney yang, strengthen bones and muscles, dispel wind dampness.

bubble_chart Indications

1. Used for kidney yang deficiency, impotence, infertility, menstrual irregularities, cold pain in the lower abdomen, etc. It can warm and tonify kidney yang and benefit essence. For treating impotence and infertility, it is often combined with Epimedium Herb, Common Curculigo Rhizome, Barbary Wolfberry Fruit, etc., such as in the Jingyue Quanshu's Zan Yu Pill. For treating cold deficiency in the lower abdomen, cold pain in the lower abdomen, and menstrual irregularities, it is often used with Lesser Galangal Rhizome, Cassia Bark, Evodia Fruit, etc., as in the Taiping Huimin Heji Jufang's Ba Ji Pill.
2. Used for liver and kidney deficiency leading to weak tendons and bones, pain in the waist and knees, or long-term wind-dampness, difficulty in walking. It can tonify yang, benefit essence, and strengthen tendons and bones, and also has a pungent and warm nature that can dispel wind-dampness. It is often combined with Eucommia Bark, Hypoglaucous Yam, etc., such as in the Zhangshi Yitong's Jin Gang Pill.

bubble_chart Documentation

1. Benjing: "Mainly treats severe wind pathogenic qi, impotence, strengthens tendons and bones, calms the five zang-organs, tonifies the middle, and enhances willpower by tonifying qi."
2. Bencao Beiyao: "Tonifies the kidney and replenishes essence, treats five strains and seven injuries, disperses wind-dampness with pungent warmth, treats wind-dampness, beriberi, and edema."

bubble_chart Usage and Dosage

Decoct and take 10-15g.

bubble_chart Modern Pharmacology

The root bark contains phytosterols, and the roots contain anthraquinones, flavonoids, vitamin C, sugars, etc. Morinda has corticosteroid-like effects and blood pressure-lowering effects. The decoction of Morinda with water can significantly increase the body weight of mice, prolong swimming time, inhibit thymus atrophy in young mice, and increase the number of white blood cells in the blood.